Chapter 7: Pony Rock Anthem
[v]
As night fell, Club Canterlot filled with party-goers from all over the city and – curiously – some from beyond. Vinyl’s surprise scratch-off was already promising to be the second biggest event in Canterlot this year, next to the Grand Galloping Gala itself.
From her spot on the stage, Vinyl peeked around the curtains that Pinkie Pie had set up the night prior. The red silk felt cool on her face as she gazed out over the crowd. She’d never played for a crowd this large and, she had to admit, she was extremely nervous. She saw Pinkie and her friends all sitting in one of the large VIP booths. Vinyl hadn’t known many ponies around Canterlot, so she hadn’t given out any VIP tickets. This time.
However, one other VIP booth was occupied by a lone pony. If she hadn’t handed out any other VIP tickets – and she was sure she hadn’t – then whoever that pony was, they were either a big name, or there for Neon. The pony in question was sitting in shadows, making them impossible to make out. That made Vinyl a little cautious, but she shook it off. Whoever it was, they must be just another fan.
She was about to step back when a voice from behind startled her.
“Hey, yo. Glad I found you,” Neon said, trotting over as Vinyl drew her head back behind the curtains with a jolt. “I just wanna wish you the best of luck. You’re like, my mentor, kinda. You’re the pony who made the music that inspired me to play. It’s a huge honor that you chose me for your first scratch-off.”
Vinyl honestly hadn’t expected that. Blinking behind her glasses, she smiled. “Well, thanks Neon. I hear you’re revolutionizing special effects, so don’t give me all the credit.”
“But I wouldn’t have even tried, if it hadn’t been for you.” Neon offered a hoof, which Vinyl bumped with gusto.
“Let’s give 'em a show.”
“And may the best pony win.”
The club burst to life as the curtains raised, music ripping through the crowd’s expectant silence. Vinyl had studied Neon’s system from afar, but now that it was active her amazement was doubled. Smoke ran from the machinery at the base and lasers wavered over the crowd, lighting the dark club along with Vinyl’s glowsticks.
“Are you ponies ready?” Pinkie’s voice broke through the music and over the cheers of the crowd. She earned a loud shout, many ponies stomping their hooves and tossing around glowsticks. Vinyl liked how popular those things were becoming. Pinkie had gotten Vinyl’s permission to be the MC from the VIP booth, as well as judge the results. The rules of the scratch-off were simple and sweet; the challenged pony goes first in a ten round duel. Other than that, it was a no-holds battle of sound.
“Then lets! Get! Started!” Vinyl laughed aloud at the sight of Pinkie, hopping up and down excitedly in the booth. With little more than a pink blur and a shining line of a pink glowstick, Pinkie was down on the dance floor, followed at a more normal pace by some of the other girls. While the booths offered the best – and only – seats, it wasn’t where the action was.
Neon started the show off low; a techno dance beat that transitioned into a hard-hitting bass. His music was inspired, but not quite up to Vinyl’s level. She noted several spots where the sounds could have been further edited to add to the effect, as well as a few places where the drop was either poorly placed or wasn’t done just right itself.
But for all the flaws in his music, his special effects were flawless. Vinyl had known from the very beginning that it would be those that truly won the hearts of the crowd. His effects made them a part of the music; explosions of flame, lasers, and flashing lights emphasizing his chaotic rhythm. Before she could really appreciate the beauty of it, it was Vinyl’s turn.
Dropping her biggest, most memorable track from the Wubpocolypse CD, Vinyl gave the crowd a blast of nostalgia as she played a new remix of her first hit song. Her talent had grown immensely since that day over a year ago, and it showed in the new style. The sound, roaring like a mechanical gryphon, pierced through the air and made the crowd go wild.
Like flowing blood, the dance floor turned into a full-on mosh pit; chaos erupted like Vinyl had never seen before. Hooves were thrown up as mob mentality drove her crowd to new heights of musical mayhem. Ponies smashed into one-another, tails bounced and heads thrashed to the music. And then, the drop crashed; the musical equivalent to an electrical shock. Ponies roared in excitement and the dancing broke out anew. Slowly, the music drew to a close and it was Neon’s turn again.
Back and forth, the two musicians battled. Neck-n'-neck, the night swelled into a cacophony of sounds, shouts, and explosions. Soon, Vinyl was lost in the music, her heart and soul blaring through the speakers and out over the crowd. This was her at her purest. She couldn’t have asked for more. After several rebuttals, it was time for Neon’s grand finale. Vinyl knew, this would be really awesome, the clincher in this battle.
Neon’s music didn’t start slow. It didn’t build up. Kicking straight into a heart-pounding drop, a platform raised behind Neon. His horn, as well as the stage, shimmered as Neon stepped up and abandoned his table, which kept playing without him. Awed, Vinyl watched as a massive creature, like some alien or techno-beast, burst to life on the stage.
It was at least four times Neon’s size, with a black coat, covered with jagged red lines, like veins that pumped light through it, rather than blood. Its horn was a jagged, twisted affair and its mane was a flowing sea of neon crimson and black. The magical illusion mimicked Neon’s movements even as his powers also manipulated his sound systems. Flames accented the creature as Neon moved to the music, the beast dancing along to his tune like a puppeteer.
His music howled, the apparition opening its mouth as if it were bellowing out the music itself. Vinyl was dumbstruck by the display, even as her own turn approached. She knew her own finale was just as good, but now she knew why Neon was the king of special effects. As soon as the beats of Neon’s soul faded, Vinyl threw hers to life, riding off the momentum of his own music.
She had no giant, dramatic figure. She had no explosions or fire bursting from firepots. What few lasers she had, paled in comparison to the show Neon had just put on. But, her music – chilling enough to freeze a wendigo, powerful enough to petrify a cockatrice – throbbed from her heart, down through her hooves, into her machines, and out through her speakers as a wail of her spirit.
This song – this glorious song – had taken her so long to perfect. It was her magnum opus, her greatest accomplishment to date. The crowd cheered even louder, their voices hoarse from their screams. Listening to it all, Vinyl suddenly didn’t care if she won or lost. The competition, it meant nothing to her so long as she could play music like this forever – music filled with passion and love for what she did. As long as she could do that, she’d be happy.
The song slowed, seemly at an end, until one final drop caught the crowd unaware, matching with the sudden explosions from the hidden cannons on her set. The glowsticks – special rainbow sticks exclusive to that moment – rained onto the crowd. Ponies scrambled to get the merchandise and in a blink, they were gone. Vinyl’s performance was over, as was the battle.
“Well ponies,” Pinkie, trotted up onto the stage from her place in the crowd. Her hair was a frizzy mess, even more than normal, and she was panting with exhaustion. Vinyl never dreamed she would ever see Pinkie worn out. “It’s time for the voting.”
The pink hostess vanished behind a secondary curtain, returning with a strange-looking machine labeled the ‘Cheer-O-Matic’ in tow. Vinyl was skeptical, but Pinkie wasn’t the type to fool around – at least not too much – at a time like this.
“Let me hear you roar, Canterlot! Who thinks MC-W1SH won the day with his awesome effects and sick jams? Give it up for Neon Lights!” A collective roar burst up through the club. A small bar raised up on Pinkie’s machine, with Neon’s face placed on the top of it. It rose to about the mid-way marker on the scale and stopped slowly. Vinyl was impressed; leave it to Pinkie to find a way to gauge cheers.
“And who here thinks DJ-PON3 is the hardest-rocking pony in all of Equestria? With her bad beats and big drops; let me hear it for Vinyl Scratch!” Another vicious round of cheering, Vinyl smiled, hearing so many voices chanting her name. She watched her bar raise, petering close to Neon’s, almost tied. She felt her heart leap into her throat as one voice tore over the others, a booming voice filled to the brim with power and authority, shouting Vinyl’s name.
The bar shot over Neon’s, stopping well over the stallion’s. “Looks like we have a winner, folks!” Pinkie grinned, motioning to Vinyl, who was trying to pick out where that voice had come from. She was fairly certain it had been the shadowy pony in the VIP booth, but…
The cheers from the crowd distracted her, making her drop her curiosity. She looked over the ponies gathered before her, then over to Neon, who was smirking, clapping for her. The bespectacled mare grinned wide and pumped her hoof, earning a loud cheer. Within a minute, the curtain had dropped and the two were alone. Vinyl sighed, levitating off her glasses and was surprised to see Neon doing the same, trotting towards her.
“That was awesome, Vinyl! I’ve never heard music like that.” Grinning, he stopped not far from her.
“You’re not too bad yourself, you know,” Vinyl replied, smiling back and hopping down from the rise her sound system was set on. “Your effects were totally wild.”
“Takes someone wild to truly appreciate something wild.” Neon nodded, laughing. “Those glowing bands were genius. They’re one of the reasons you won, I think.”
“I think I may’ve just gotten lucky. That illusion you made was amazing. I’d have cheered for you, if I was in that crowd.” Vinyl looked over her shoulder at her system. “I feel like you should’ve won, really. Your music had just as much heart as mine.”
“Well, if you’re offering…” Neon winked, getting a laugh from Vinyl. It proved contagious and soon the two were laughing together, Vinyl wiping a tear from her eye. The joy flowed off into sighs and the two fell silent. Neither of them seemed to know what to say, until Neon broke the silence.
“Say, would you be willing to, like… go out to dinner, or a movie or something, sometime?”
Vinyl blinked, a little shocked. She was used to getting love letters, with both mares and stallions asking similar questions. At concerts, ponies would shout their affection to her, though she’d hardly notice amidst all the music. Neon was the first pony who actually had come up to her and asked her face-to-face. She was equally shocked to find that an answer was harder to come up with than she imagined. She knew she had to be blushing and levitated her glasses back on.
“A date, huh? Give me a bit to think about it, ‘kay? That’s kinda sudden. We just met, after all.”
Neon nodded, understanding. He didn’t look hurt, which gave Vinyl some relief. As she considered all this, Pinkie Pie burst out from around the curtains.
“Hey, you two! The crowd’s calling for an encore! And did you two know about our super-special guest?”
Vinyl raised an eyebrow, thoughts of Neon’s request vanishing. “Special guest?” Had Octavia shown up? She hurried to the curtain and peeked out, scanning the crowd. Pinkie peered out from beside Vinyl.
“No, over there.” Pinkie nudged her nose in the direction of the VIP booths. “The second balcony.”
The pony who had been resting in the shadows had stepped forward. Almost all eyes were on her, shocked expressions all around. Vinyl herself was stricken dumb, her jaw dropping as the Princess of the Night relaxed in her booth. Princess Luna was here!
Vinyl felt her throat dry. She had been in Ponyville when Nightmare Moon kidnapped Princess Celestia. She had stayed behind in the frightened town, while Twilight and her friends rushed off to save Equestria. It had been a terrifying night, for sure. Now, here was the Princess herself, freed from the evil that had held her. Or was she? Vinyl wasn’t sure.
What she was sure about, however, was that the Princess was cheering. She was calling for an encore in the very same booming voice that had won Vinyl the scratch-off. Suddenly, Vinyl felt very self-conscious.
“Is that Princess Luna?” Neon’s head peeked out between Vinyl and Pinkie. He seemed more enthusiastic by the idea of the Princess of the Night rooting them on. “Sweet! We got royalty here! You know, I heard she was a big fan of yours, Vinyl, but I didn’t know it was true. Heh, guess I didn’t stand a chance, with her rooting for you.”
Vinyl felt her blush return. The Princess was here to cheer her on? She leaned back behind the curtain, thinking.
“I say we give them an encore, Neon.” She grinned, a grand idea coming over her. “We should mix our skills. My music. Your special effects. We’ll blow this crowd away.”
“Oh, yeah, that’ll be awesome!” Neon flicked his glasses back onto his face, nodding. “Pinkie, can you give me a hoof?”
Hurrying, the three ponies merged the two systems. The massive combination took up the center of the stage with a multi-tier appearance; Neon’s control box below Vinyl’s turntables and sound systems. Above all that, Neon’s devices flickered and flashed, as if eager to brighten the night with their light. Vinyl surveyed the design and gave an appreciable nod.
"Hit it."
The music started; the curtain rose. Vinyl and Neon were greeted by the excited screams of the crowd. Together, they did just as Vinyl wanted: they rocked Canterlot to its core. Even the Princess was thrilled, clapping enthusiastically from her seat.
Vinyl drowned herself in the song – feeling strangely complete – with the special effects going off around her. As the lights flashed, flickering off her glasses, she became enthralled in a new world where rhythms could be seen by the naked eye, flowing through the air like leaves. In her eyes, shockwaves blasted out from the speakers, rippling over the crowd and rebounding off the walls, curling back to collide with the next wave. Bodies glowed with the blaze of the pyrotechnics, warming her heart and body.
Almost without thinking Vinyl looked over her shoulder, and was supercharged by the sight of a monstrous version of herself; the same illusion Neon had finished with, linked to her instead. It had a style more geared towards her, with a blazing blue mane of fire and veins of white and cerise. It wore glasses like hers, with blazing purple lenses that swirled like a pair of vortexes. She grinned from ear to ear, throwing her head back and cheering. The alien likeness copied her, roaring out her music.
The crowd shouted, drown out by the thrum of the beat. Vinyl felt like her heart would explode, both from happiness and the sheer power of the music she was making. A particularly vicious drop left her trembling from horn to hoof, her tail twitching as she shifted in place. By the time the song was over, Vinyl was sweating, completely out of breath. She had been jumping around and using magic to bolster her performance, wearing her out quickly. She was exhausted, but deeply satisfied that she had played the best concert of her life. The curtains dropped after the final bow and Vinyl dismounted her musical throne. Neon wasn’t far away, turning to speak with her.
Whatever words he'd been meaning to say left him as a confused, jumbled sound as Vinyl darted over, drunk with excitement, and kissed him. He made a few muffled noises, but eventually gave up, returning the affection. When the kiss finally broke, Vinyl leaned back a bit, laughing at the surprised look on Neon’s face.
“You’ve got a date.” She winked from behind her glasses, looking over the stallion again. Neon was disheveled, his glasses hanging halfway off his face. His jaw looked unhinged, hanging open like it was. Vinyl leaned forward again, aiming to kiss him back out of his stupor.
“Vinyl?”
Vinyl jumped and leaned back from Neon quickly, as if she could mask what they’d been doing. Neon turned slowly, looking lazy with happiness, to look at the speaker. Vinyl, also seeing who had spoken, looked more confused and shocked than anything.
Octavia stood at the corner of the curtain, an unreadable expression on her face. Fiddlesticks was just behind her, blushing furiously with a hoof covering her mouth.
“Tavi? Holy Celestia, Tavi!” Vinyl found the bounce in her step again, heading towards her old friend. She was still riding the high from her concert and never even considered the growing knot in her chest. “I didn’t see you in the crowd. I wondered if you’d—“
“You invited me,” Octavia said sharply, cutting Vinyl off. She flicked a hoof, a ticket fluttering to the floor between them. “Why did you give me this then, hm? I expected you wanted to talk to me, but you never really looked for me, did you? You just assumed I wouldn’t show. And, like pouring lemon juice on a cut, when I come to find you – hoping this was all just a misunderstanding or you were just occupied – you’re busy flirting with… whoever he is.” Octavia motioned disdainfully at Neon, who was looking more and more uncomfortable.
“But Tavi, I didn’t… I had no idea you…” Vinyl trailed off, withering under Octavia’s glare. Her friend had changed a lot in Canterlot. Oh, she looked the same, but the Octavia that Vinyl remembered had never acted like this before. There was a spite in her tone that Vinyl wouldn't have ever imagined leaving her friend's lips, and a scorn in her eyes that made Vinyl feel like a foal again. The knot swelled and it became impossible to not feel it.
“You didn’t what, Vinyl?” Octavia stomped a hoof loudly, her voice rising. The crowd, still cheering behind her, was quieting down now as the club emptied. Vinyl was shocked to see tears in her friend's eyes, slowly forming twin lines down her face. “You didn’t think I’d come when you invited me? Did you really think I’d reject your invitation, like you rejected all of mine? Did you seriously think I was even half as petty as you?”
Fiddle gasped and hurried forward, putting a hoof on Octavia’s side, whispering to her half-sister. Vinyl heard none of it; she was staring at Octavia in a mixture of hurt and confusion, while her mind started to piece this horrible situation together. She cursed under her breath, even as Fiddle stepped away from her sister and Octavia calmed down.
She didn’t stop glaring, however, tears burning her eyes. “I shouldn’t have come here," Octavia said coldly. "Take Fiddlesticks back to Ponyville with you. I’m sure our parents are worried sick about her.” The words stung Fiddlesticks, Vinyl could tell.
“Octi, you’re comin’ with me, right? You said we’d all go back together,” Fiddlesticks countered quickly, putting her hoof back onto Octavia’s shoulder, but her sister shrugged it off and backed away from the other ponies.
“Go home with Vinyl, Fiddle. My home is here, in Canterlot. I suppose it took this to remind me of where I belong.” Fiddle started to say something, as did Vinyl, but Octavia turned and darted off, galloping faster than Vinyl had ever seen her move. With a flutter of curtains, she was gone.
Vinyl swore louder this time, charging after her friend. Her sweat from the concert had turned cold, chilling her body with fear. She couldn’t let things end like this. She wouldn’t let things fall apart so completely. If Octavia turned her away, so be it, but Vinyl refused to go down without a fight. Just as she was about to reach the door, she saw Twilight out of the corner of her eye. Overcome with anger Vinyl slowed, growling in her throat, and diverted her path towards the unicorn.
“Vinyl, that show was—“
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?!” Vinyl cut Twilight off, shouting. She wasn’t stupid, despite her normally erratic attitude. She had realized what Twilight had done the minute Octavia dropped the ticket. Twilight faltered, stepping back a step.
“You put the invitation on Octavia’s door without telling me.” Vinyl didn’t shout now, her anger simmering into the embers of calm, collected rage. Twilight stared at Vinyl, and then looked down, ashamed.
“I just wanted to help…” Twilight’s voice wavered as she realized just who had sprinted past her only moments before.
Vinyl wanted to be angry. She wanted to vent and rage and make Twilight feel as bad as she did, but she knew Twilight had genuinely only meant to help. Heaving an agitated sigh, Vinyl decided to focus her anger elsewhere, like turning it into energy to chase down Octavia.
“Fine. I forgive you. But next time you do something that big, just tell me, ‘kay?” She didn’t wait for a reply, hurrying around Twilight, who watched after her sadly.
Outside, Vinyl looked down the streets, trying to guess where Octavia had gone. Back to the house she’d seen her at before?
“Twenty-four Saddle Road. Apartment two.” Vinyl looked over her shoulder to see Fiddlesticks walking towards her. Her eyes were huge, filled with pain and hope. “Please help my sister. Please.”
Vinyl could only nod, listening as Fiddle gave her directions to Octavia’s apartment. She had never been in that area herself, but this wasn’t the first time she’d gone somewhere on directions alone. As she ran, all thoughts of Neon and Fiddle faded – an image of Octavia, crying, burned into her mind. She needed to fix this; she refused to let their friendship crumble away completely.
Canterlot was empty so late at night, so close to the rising of the sun. She made good time, rushing towards the end of her directions and soon she reached the apartment.
Vinyl had been shocked when Fiddle had told her Octavia lived in an apartment complex. With Octavia’s fame, she had expected a mansion or at least a small house. She was panting as she climbed the steps of the stoop, worn out from her heated gallop. She hadn’t even considered setting a pace for herself and now she was paying for it. As she started inside and rushed up the stairs, her muscles screamed in protest. Stopping outside apartment two, Vinyl steeled herself. She paused to let her breathing settle, then knocked.
No answer. Vinyl wasn’t shocked.
“Tavi, it’s me. Open up.” She leaned her head on the door, willing it open. “I didn’t leave that invite, Tavi. Twilight, a friend of mine, did.” She paused, feeling the truth bubble up in her throat.
“I saw you go into that house, but I was too scared to give you a ticket. I was terrified you’d turn me down. So, yeah, I thought you’d ignore an invite, if I gave you one. Why wouldn’t you? I screwed up bad, and I knew it.” She brought her head against the door with a soft thump. “I was stupid to not come with you. I was stupid to be so scared, but you’re my best friend, Tavi. After all this time, I don’t think of you as anything less. It’s because of you that I even made dub-trot. I wanted to make you proud of me; to be even half the musician you are. I never wanted to do anything to hurt you, Tavi. I’m dumb, I was selfish, and I’m really, really sorry. Please, open the door. Please, Tavi.”
The silence that followed was grating. Vinyl felt like every second that leaked past was a second truly lost off her life.
A lock clicked.
A door opened.
Vinyl tackled Octavia the minute she saw her. She knew it was stupid, but she didn’t care. She hugged her friend with all the strength her protesting muscles could offer.
“I’m so very sorry, Vinyl.” Vinyl felt Octavia hug her back, shaking violently. She was sobbing, hiding her head against Vinyl’s shoulder. “I was the selfish one, not you. I stormed off a-and… I’ve never in my life regretted anything as much as I regret leaving you behind.”
Oddly, Vinyl found herself offering comfort where she expected a tongue-lashing. She pulled herself off Octavia, looking into the room. It pained her to see how simple Octavia’s home was. Octavia, the legendary classical diva of Canterlot; if only ponies knew where she laid her head every night. Everything was so average, aside from Octavia’s cello, immaculate on its stand in the corner.
Vinyl silently wondered where all the bits from Octavia’s performances and album sales went. Looking back to Octavia, she saw her friend drying her tears. She trotted over, hugging her more properly now.
“Tavi, you could’ve just said something, you know. I wouldn’t have cared. I’d be too busy being happy you were back.”
Octavia gave her head a shake. “You don’t understand. At first, Canterlot was all I ever dreamed. It was absolutely splendid, almost too good to be true. I suppose it really was too good to be true.” She sniffed and trotted across the room to grab a tissue, blowing her nose daintily. “I’m sorry I acted like that. I said such hurtful things. I don’t know what came over me, Vinyl.”
“Come back to Ponyville,” Vinyl said, not bothering to accept her apology; her smile said plenty about that. She genuinely didn’t care about anything but Octavia going home right then and there. “Dad's still in the Griffon Empire, so I’ve got plenty of space for you to move in with me, if you want. You can come back here for your performances, but come home with me, Tavi.”
Octavia’s eyes welled with tears again. She nodded, smiling. “I… think that would be wonderful. Thank you.” She looked oddly refreshed, tears streaming down her face, over a warm smile. Vinyl felt like she was about to finally collapse from relief – or maybe that was her muscles finally giving out.
“You know,” Vinyl said, chuckling. “I’ll get you back one day for crashing my scratch-off.”
Despite the joke, Octavia didn’t laugh, but just kept smiling. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The return to the club was slow, but Vinyl had no problem with that at all. The two reunited friends had worked together to pack up everything Octavia absolutely couldn’t leave without, informing the landlord of her impending move. He seemed rather sad to see her go, but wished her luck. Octavia shook his hoof, thanking him profusely, feeling her own small wave of sadness. He was a good friend.
Side by side, the two mares caught up, explaining their subsequent rises to fame. Vinyl insisted on meeting Octavia’s band one day, though Octavia was clearly hesitant. Vinyl had made it very clear that she wanted to do unpleasant things to Noteworthy, and Octavia couldn't for the life of her tell if she was joking or not.
“I wouldn’t mind you meeting Beauty Brass, but… you’d have to promise to not hurt Noteworthy.” Octavia also had some trouble imagining Concerto enjoying Vinyl’s company. Symphony would probably just storm off in a huff, though Nandermane was versatile and charismatic enough that Octavia thought that would be bearable.
“No deal. He made Fiddle cry,” Vinyl said simply and shrugged. “I promise it won’t be permanent.”
Octavia sighed, but hid a smile. Vinyl hadn't changed one iota.
The club was empty, aside from the ponies Vinyl had brought along, as well as Neon and Fiddlesticks.
“Vinyl!” Twilight hurried over, noticing them first. “I’m so sorry! Fiddlesticks told me everything that happened. I never—”
“Water under the bridge, Sparkly. Just don’t make the same mistake twice, ‘kay? Might not turn out so cool next time.” Vinyl watched as Fiddle rushed over to Octavia and the two started comforting one another, Fiddle telling her sister that Neon was sorry and Octavia telling Fiddle that she was, in fact, going home to Ponyville.
Neon kept his distance, until Vinyl motioned him over to her. As he approached, Vinyl looked over to Octavia.
“You two had a really awkward first meeting, so how about a do-over? Tavi, this is Neon Lights, a dub-trot musician and a master of special effects. He just won a date from me, lucky stallion that he is.” Vinyl grinned and puffed her chest out jokingly.
Octavia was silent for a few moments, then patted Fiddle on the shoulder and walked closer to Neon and Vinyl. She smiled to Neon, who seemed uncertain how to take the simple expression; if it was a silent threat or a polite gesture.
“Mr. Lights,” Octavia began, her calm voice relaxed Neon. “I’ll expect you to treat Vinyl like the wonderful mare that she is. She’s my best friend after all, and I won’t have any stallion treat her poorly.”
Neon grinned. “I’d never mistreat someone as awesome as Vinyl. She’s my idol.”
“What happened to the Princess?” Vinyl decided now would be a good time to bring that up. She had been worried about meeting the Princess once she got back here, but clearly she had left.
“Nopony knows,” Pinkie responded from above Vinyl. She was floating with the aid of some balloons, picking streamers off the ceiling, while Rainbow and Fluttershy helped. “She vanished after you ran out.”
“I could mail Princess Celestia a letter for her, if you’d like. Maybe send her a special gift for supporting you?” Twilight added, smiling graciously. “It’s the least I can do to apologize for messing things up so bad.”
Octavia answered for Vinyl, turning to Twilight with a little laugh. “Messing things up? I do believe you have things seriously confused.” She inclined her head. “You’re Twilight Sparkle, correct?” Twilight nodded, looking a little embarrassed. “Vinyl told me all about you, while we were walking. She said you were a rather big fan of mine.”
Twilight kicked her hoof anxiously. “Well, not as much of a fan as ponies like Rarity.”
“Oh come, darling.” Rarity spoke at the mention of her name. She was lightening the weight of the heavier equipment with her magic, helping Applejack pack it for moving. “When I introduced you to her music, you couldn’t stop listening. I was forced to loan you the records until you bought some of your own.” The group laughed and Twilight blushed, fidgeting some more.
“Well then.” Octavia nodded to herself, and then bowed her head to Twilight more formally. “You say you owe us, but I believe the truth to be that I owe you, Miss Sparkle. If you hadn’t taken such a bold action, the events of this night never would have happened. It’s very probable that Vinyl would have simply come and gone, and nopony would have been the wiser.”
Vinyl noticed Fiddle looking slightly confused at Octavia's statement, before covering the expression up. Vinyl tilted her head, not really sure what to make the brief flicker of emotion, but she imagined it wasn't that serious.
Twilight blinked in surprise, waving a hoof nervously. “Oh no, no. Don’t worry about it. I just didn’t want a friendship like yours to fall apart so easily, is all. Applejack always told me about you two, since you were Fiddlesticks’ sister.”
“All the same, I would like to repay you. Never let it be said that Octavia Melody doesn’t show her thanks to those who help her. Perhaps I could play live for you sometime. I won’t be too far away so it’s not such a farfetched idea.”
Despite Twilight’s adamant requests that Octavia needn’t pay her back, Vinyl knew that Octavia was as stone in this. She was deeply grateful for the help Twilight had given them and would strive to repay that kindness, whether Twilight wanted her to or not.
“That’s all of 'em,” Rainbow said plainly, drifting from the ceiling with the last of the decorations. The sound system, only half dismantled by Rarity, was all that was left to pack up.
“I can get those, if you all want,” Neon said to the room at large, suddenly acutely aware that he was the only stallion in a room full of mares.
Vinyl laughed a little at his anxiety. “I’ll give you a hoof, Neon. You girls can head to the train station; I’ll be there before it leaves.” Bumping Neon with her flank, Vinyl grinned and walked off to the stage, Neon staring after her.
He tipped his shades down, whistling and whispering under his breath. “I never imagined I’d be so lucky.”
Octavia smiled as she overheard him, watching him follow after Vinyl. Lucky indeed… Octavia thought to herself, sighing. She felt a slight pang in her chest, an ounce of jealousy at having to share her best friend. When the pain in her chest didn’t lessen, Octavia frowned, turning so the others wouldn’t notice her discomfort. She walked outside to get her cello, running a hoof over the instrument fondly. She was happy, but deep down, a part of her cried that things had only gotten so much more complicated.